Fa Ngum was born into the royal family in Muang Sua, the capital of a small state ruled by King Souvanna Khampong. Major religion Buddhism. The city's central river port location in a country relying heavily on its rivers for transportation and its surrounding hinterland of intensive rice cultivation have made Vientiane the major economic centre of Laos. Laos is a part of the Southeast Asian region. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons (rainy, cool and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. What is the Difference Between Democrats and Republicans. The Lao League is the top professional league for association football clubs in the country. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [104], In October 1999, 30 young people were arrested for attempting to display posters calling for peaceful economic, political and social change in Laos. Lan Xang became an important trade centre during Samsenthai's reign, but after his death in 1421 it collapsed into warring factions for nearly a century. Other Hmong fighters hid out in mountains in Xiangkhouang Province for many years, with a remnant emerging from the jungle in 2003. [164] One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, made in 2008. [112] Laos is an origin country for sexually trafficked persons. The small nation is bordered by China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. More than a century later, the kingdom was replaced by the Kingdom of Vientiane in 1707. The area was originally settled because of the fertility of the surrounding alluvial plains, and Vientiane became the capital city of Laos around the mid-16th century. Pakse. They were to have been released by October 2009, but their whereabouts remain unknown. ::", "Global Religious Landscape; Table: Religious Composition by Country", "Human Development Report 2009. The capital is Vientiane (Lao: Viangchan), located on the Mekong River in the northern portion of the country. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. [139]:3940, In 2004 the net primary enrollment rate was 84%. "Laos refuses to take back Thai-based Hmong refugees", Smith, Philip, Washington, D.C. (12 December 2014), Kyophilavong, Phouphet, et al. Between 20,000 and 62,000 Laotians died during the civil war. ", Barclay, Adam and Shrestha, Samjhana (AprilJune 2006). As a low-income country, Laos faces a brain-drain problem as many educated people migrate to developed countries. Between 1995 and 2008 approximately 1,232,900 more people had access to improved sanitation in rural areas. Location: Champasak Province, Laos. Laos is a landlocked country located in the Indochinese Peninsula. [45] When Japan surrendered, some Lao nationalists (including Prince Phetsarath) declared Laotian independence, but by early-1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. [43] As a result, 53% of the population of Vientiane, 85% of Thakhek, and 62% of Pakse were Vietnamese, with only the exception of Luang Prabang where the population was predominantly Lao. [65] 400 AD - Theravada Buddhism was introduced to Laos. Very few of the Lao refugees, however, were willing to return voluntarily. As of 2011[update], Nhn Dn ('The People') and the Xinhua News Agency are the only foreign media organisations permitted to open offices in Laosboth opened bureaus in Vientiane in 2011. [97] The organisation also raised concerns in relation to freedom of expression, poor prison conditions, restrictions on freedom of religions, protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, and the death penalty. His reign is often regarded as Laos's golden age. Find professional Laos Capital videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Bomb Tonnages Dropped on Laos and Cambodia, and Weighing Their Implications", "Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme", Politics in Contemporary Southeast Asia: Authority, Democracy and Political Change, Renovation in Vietnam since 1988 a study in political, economic and social change, "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity", "Mekong Divides Different Worlds In 'Golden Triangle', "Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia", "East Asia/Southeast Asia:: Laos The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency", "Laos promotes PM Thongloun as leader of communist party", "OEC Laos (LAO) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners", "Q+A What is the East Asia Summit all about? Lao Basics: An Introduction to the Lao Language. [176][177], Polygamy is officially a crime in Laos, though the penalty is minor. [19][20][21][22][23] In the Lao language, the country's name is Muang Lao () or Pathet Lao (), both of which literally mean 'Lao Country'. The city of Vientiane is located on the Mekong River's bank near the Laos-Thailand border, and is the seat of the countrys national government. . Browse 13,220 laos capital stock photos and images available, or search for laos culture or thailand to find more great stock photos and pictures. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in the Mekong river basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. [38] France rescued King Oun Kham and added Luang Phrabang to the protectorate of French Indochina. Giant Buddha Statue Plan Rankles Residents of Laos' Capital: Report By Sebastian Strangio A Chinese firm's plans to build a 100-meter-high Buddha statue in low-lying Vientiane encapsulate China . When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. Laos is now an independent country with an elected government, and Vientiane is its official capital. Some Vietnamese, Laotian Chinese[148] and Thai minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many left after independence in the late 1940s, many of whom relocated either to Vietnam, Hong Kong, or to France. Its international borders were closed except to trucks carrying goods and in cases allowed by the nation's COVID . [30] He made Theravada Buddhism the state religion, and Lan Xang prospered. [96][97] In The Economist's Democracy Index 2016 Laos was classified as an "authoritarian regime", ranking lowest of the nine ASEAN nations included in the study. If you drive into town, you might not even realize when you're actually in the city proper, as Vientiane blends seamlessly with the countryside. [167] One production company's film that has succeeded to produce Lao feature films and gain international recognition is Lao New Wave Cinema's At the Horizon, directed by Anysay Keola, that was screened at the OzAsia Film Festival[168] and Lao Art Media's Chanthaly (Lao: ) directed by Mattie Do, which was screened at the 2013 Fantastic Fest. [143], The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs. Located on the Mekong River the city has 950,000 inhabitants. In 1960, amidst a series of rebellions in the Kingdom of Laos, fighting broke out between the Royal Lao Army (RLA) and the communist North Vietnamese and Soviet Union-backed Pathet Lao guerillas. [131] In 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights conducted an official visit to Laos and found that the country's top-down approach to economic growth and poverty alleviation "is all too often counterproductive, leading to impoverishment and jeopardising the rights of the poor and marginalised. Paul Lvy, ''Histoire du Laos'', PUF, 1974. You'll find yourself slowly won over by the easy charms of this evolving . [46], Male life expectancy at birth was at 62.6 years and female life expectancy was at 66.7 years in 2017. [47] Between 1964 and 1973, the US dropped two million tons of bombs on Laos, nearly equal to the 2.1million tons of bombs the US dropped on Europe and Asia during all of World War II, making Laos the most heavily bombed country in history relative to the size of its population; The New York Times notes this was "nearly a ton for every person in Laos". Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. The national basketball team competed at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where it beat Myanmar in the eighth place game.[185]. Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. "Muay" comes from the Sanskrit term meaning "to box" but is generally used to describe the unarmed martial art found throughout Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. [60] The country is one of four in the opium poppy growing region known as the "Golden Triangle". In response, the United States initiated a bombing campaign against the PAVN positions, supported regular and irregular anti-communist forces in Laos, and supported Army of the Republic of Vietnam incursions into Laos. [66][67] The incumbent head of government is Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0. This tourist attraction still holds more than 10 thousand Buddha statues, large and small. Laos does not have a well-developed capital market, although government policies increasingly support the formation of capital and free flow of financial resources. According to a Laotian epic, Vientiane was founded on the Mekong Rivers eastern banks by a prince named Thattaradtha. [145], In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer-speaking groups, known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians, predominate. In 1899, Vientiane became the capital of the French protectorate of Laos, which ensured further development in the city. For other uses, see, , "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity", Independence and Communist rule (1953present), The State respects and protects all lawful activities of Buddhists and of followers of other religions, [and] mobilises and encourages Buddhist monks and novices as well as the priests of other religions to participate in activities that are beneficial to the country and people, Sanda Simms, ch. The streets are lined with trees, French colonial buildings, street markets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops. The Patuxai, Vientiane Laos. [41] Under French rule, the Vietnamese were encouraged to migrate to Laos, which was seen by the French colonists as a rational solution to a labour shortage within the confines of an Indochina-wide colonial space. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national musical instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo mouth organ that has prehistoric origins. Laos is a landlocked country on the Indo-Chinese peninsula between Thailand and Vietnam. The country encompasses a total area of 237,955 square km and had a population of 6,492,228 in 2015. Giant Buddha Statue Plan Rankles Residents of Laos' Capital: Report. France remained in de facto control until 22 October 1953, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy. A major breakthrough occurred in December 2021, when the 414-km long standard-gauge BotenVientiane railway that runs from the capital Vientiane to Boten at the northern border with China, built as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was opened. Pr-histria. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}18N 105E / 18N 105E / 18; 105. Capital: Vientiane. [77] Pressure to resettle the refugees grew as the Thai government worked to close its remaining refugee camps. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is the antithesis of a bustling capital like London. [28], Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang ('million elephants'), which was founded in the 13th century by a Lao prince, Fa Ngum,[29]:223 whose father had his family exiled from the Khmer Empire. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Other carriers serving the country include Bangkok Airways, Vietnam Airlines, AirAsia, Thai Airways and China Eastern Airlines. History of Laos. Em 2009, um antigo crnio foi encontrado em uma caverna nas montanhas Annamite, no norte do Laos. There are some public holidays, festivities and ceremonies in Laos. According to the World Bank data conducted in 2014, Laos has met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on water and sanitation regarding the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme. Laos opened on May 2022 and it is nice to travel t. 3. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Updated on November 19, 2021. [citation needed], The Lao government controls all media channels to prevent critique of its actions. Laos (/los/ (listen)[9][d]), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao: ), is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. This land area is approximately 59% of the area of California. Shortly after, the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were added to the protectorate. The Lao Securities Exchange (LSX) began operations in 2011 with two stocks listed, both state-owned - the Banque Pour l'CommerceExterieur (BCEL), and the power generation arm of . (Lao: , pronounced Loo-ang pah-bang and also spelled Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. [19] In English, the 's' is pronounced, and not silent. The capital of Laos is Vientiane, which was founded 13th century. Karen J, "House Panel Hears Concerns About Hmong", States News Service, 26 April 1994. [178] Polygamy, however, is still customary among some Hmong people. When Fa Ngum was a baby, his grandfather, the reigning king, expelled Fa Ngum's father . Laos Capital City, Vientiane. [113] A number of citizens, primarily women and girls from all ethnic groups and foreigners, have been victims of sex trafficking in Laos. [144], The people of Laos are often categorised by their distribution by elevation: (lowlands, midlands and upper high lands) as this somewhat correlates with ethnic groupings. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper, and other valuable metals. Ninety-three percent of households have a telephone, either fixed line or mobile. Only 4% of the country is arable land and a mere 0.3% used as permanent crop land,[120] the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion. He has been General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, a position making him the de facto leader of Laos, since January 2021. [46], The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. Laos(nume oficial: Republica Popular Democrat Laos) este un stat fr ieire la mare din Asia de Sud-Est, ce se nvecineaz cu Birmania (Myanmar) i China la nord-est, cu Vietnamul la est, cu Cambodgia la sud i cu Thailanda la vest. [133], The tourism sector has grown rapidly, from 80,000 international visitors in 1990, to 1.876million in 2010,[134] when tourism had been expected to rise to US$1.5857billion by 2020. [47][51] The royalists set up a government in exile in the United States. 15. The Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong. In 2017, the country sent a team for the first time to the team events at the Southeast Asian Games. It is evident throughout the country, expressed in language, temples and the arts and literature. It is produced by the Lao Brewery Company. In 1996 as the deadline for the closure of Thai refugee camps approached, and under mounting political pressure, the United States agreed to resettle Hmong refugees who passed a new screening process. [63] There is a distinct rainy season from May to October, followed by a dry season from November to April. Vientiane: Laos' Capital City . [79], In 1993, Vue Mai, a former Hmong soldier and leader of the largest Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, who had been recruited by the USEmbassy in Bangkok to return to Laos as proof of the repatriation programme's success, disappeared in Vientiane. [47], The foreign relations of Laos after the takeover by the Pathet Lao in December 1975 were characterised by a hostile posture toward the West, with the government of the Lao PDR aligning itself with the Soviet Bloc, maintaining close ties with the Soviet Union and depending heavily on the Soviets for most of its foreign assistance. Buddha park in Vientiane, Laos. The rebellion failed, and Vientiane was ransacked. [24], An ancient human skull was recovered in 2009 from the Tam Pa Ling Cave in the Annamite Mountains in northern Laos; the skull is at least 46,000 years old, making it the oldest modern human fossil found to date in Southeast Asia. A second Provisional Government of National Unity formed by Prince Souvanna Phouma in 1962 was unsuccessful, and the situation steadily deteriorated into large scale civil war between the Royal Laotian government and the Pathet Lao. Vientiane is the largest city with an area of 3,920km and the most populous in Laos with a population of 562,244. [49] Due to the particularly heavy impact of cluster bombs during this war, Laos was a strong advocate of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to ban the weapons and was host to the First Meeting of States Parties to the convention in November 2010. Amongst them, 100,000 Hmongs30% of the entire Hmong populationand 90% of all of Lao intellectuals, specialists, and officials. [141] Laos's predominantly rural[142] population makes investing in sanitation difficult. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. The khaen traditionally accompanied the singer in mor lam, the dominant style of folk music. [68] Laos also maintained a "special relationship" with Vietnam and formalised a 1977 treaty of friendship and cooperation that created tensions with China. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, where the mountains of the Annamite Range form most of the eastern border with Vietnam and the Luang Prabang Range the northwestern border with the Thai highlands. [147] Ten percent belong to other "lowland" groups, which together with the Lao people make up the Lao Loum (lowland people). The close ties between Laos and Vietnam were formalised via a treaty signed in 1977, which has since provided direction for Lao foreign policy, and provides the basis for Vietnamese involvement at all levels of Lao political and economic life. [150] Languages like Khmu (Austroasiatic) and Hmong (Hmong-Mien) are spoken by minorities, particularly in the midland and highland areas. Major festivals include Lao New Year celebrated around 1315 April and involves a water festival similar but more subdued than that of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The capital of Laos is Vientiane. Of the 2,908,440 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. Laos was then dependent on military and economic aid from the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. [155] The National University of Laos is the Lao state's public university. "[81] Republicans called several Congressional hearings on alleged persecution of the Hmong in Laos in an apparent attempt to generate further support for their opposition to the Hmong's repatriation to Laos. Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. [14] It is a one-party socialist republic, espousing MarxismLeninism and governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, under which non-governmental organisations have routinely characterised the country's human rights record as poor, citing repeated abuses such as torture, restrictions on civil liberties and persecution of minorities. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation but was re-colonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos's first French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on 11 May 1947, and declared Laos an independent state within the French Union. CIA agent Bill Lair met with the young Hmong military . It is bordered by Myanmar (used to be known in English as "Burma") and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by . What Is the Capital of Laos? 4 min. [149], Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong, Yao (Mien) (Hmong-Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. At the eve of the Vietnam War, the Secret War was beginning in Laos as political factions between communist Pathet Lao and the government occurred. By 1940, around 600 French citizens lived in Laos. Vientiane, pronounced as "Viang-chan" in Lao, has been the Laotian capital city for 453 years. Travel over the land is hard. The sinh is a traditional garment worn by Lao women in daily life. Population 6.7 million. All these changes were partly due to the inflow of foreign capital into the Lao economy in the form of direct investment. Authorities in Laos have reported a significant Covid-19 outbreak near the notorious Kings Romans casino, whose Chinese owner is accused by the United States of trafficking people, wildlife and drugs. The Lao National Tourism Administration, related government agencies and the private sector are working together to realise the vision put forth in the country's National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan. Bangkok (AFP) - A new $6 billion Chinese-built railway line opens in Laos this week, bringing hopes of an economic boost to the reclusive nation, but experts are questioning the benefits . The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is a developing country ruled by a one-party, Communist government. The Lao government has been working with the International Rice Research Institute of the Philippines to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos. [47][52] Laos was requested in 1979 by Vietnam to end relations with the People's Republic of China, leading to isolation in trade by China, the United States, and other countries. [123] Approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice. Muay Lao is an ancient martial art practiced throughout Laos, but mainly in the capital of Vientiane. [56], On 3 December 2021, the 422-kilometre Boten-Vientiane railway, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was opened. Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. Vientiane suffered greatly during the conflict between the kingdom's army and Siamese forces in 1827. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. Fa Ngum's eldest son, Oun Heuan, ascended to the throne under the name Samsenethai and reigned for 43years. The city is Laos' capital and is located along the banks of the Mekong River. Layers of Chinese Loanwords in Proto-Southwestern Tai as Evidence for the Dating of the Spread of Southwestern Tai, "Let's hope Laos hangs on to its identity", "Slavery in Nineteenth-Century Northern Thailand: Archival Anecdotes and Village Voices", Creating Laos: The Making of a Lao Space Between Indochina and Siam, 18601945, "Laos Encyclopdia Britannica Overview", "Making More Enemies than We Kill? Services and facilities for tourists are adequate in the capital, Vientiane, and in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, but are extremely limited in . Vientiane, Laos - Jul 29, 1998: Tuk-tuk and Patuxai Triumphal arch in Lane Xang Avenue. [141] The authorities in Laos have recently developed an innovative regulatory framework for publicprivate partnership contracts signed with small enterprises, in parallel with more conventional regulation of state-owned water enterprises. The Thai government attempted to repatriate these refugees, but the Wat Tham Krabok Hmong refused to leave and the Lao government refused to accept them, claiming they were involved in the illegal drug trade and were of non-Lao origin. head to the ancient capital of Laos - Vientiane, soak in the countryside of Pakse, and play with mischievous dolphins in 4000 Islands. [46], During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao independence organisation. Evidence for modern human presence in the northern and central highlands of Indochina, that constitute the territories of the modern Laotian nation-state dates back to the Lower Paleolithic. 1 Vientiane the increasingly busy capital on the banks of the Mekong River; 2 Huay Xai in the north, on the Mekong and the border with Thailand; 3 Luang Namtha capital of the north, known for its trekking; 4 Luang Prabang a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples, colonial era architecture, and vibrant night market; 5 Muang Xay also known as . Laos Laos is the only . [108] In late February 2017, two of those imprisoned were finally released after 17 years. According to the USCommittee for Refugees, he was arrested by Lao security forces and was never seen again. and Yurnaidi, Z., 2020. Since the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975, very few films have been made in Laos. [44] On 9 March 1945, a nationalist group declared Laos once more independent, with Luang Prabang as its capital, but on 7 April 1945 two battalions of Japanese troops occupied the city. The restaurant serves a variety of local delicacies, such as Khao piak sen (a rice noodle soup), mok lao (an exotic coconut curry), and of course, Lao sausage. [citation needed], On 2 December 1975, after taking control of the country, the Pathet Lao government under Kaysone Phomvihane renamed the country as the Lao People's Democratic Republic and signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station armed forces and to appoint advisers to assist in overseeing the country. King Sisavang Vong of Luang Phrabang became ruler of a unified Laos, and Vientiane once again became the capital. Area 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles) Major languages Lao, French. [140], Laos has made particularly noteworthy progress increasing access to sanitation. [9] Durante o quarto milnio a.C., frascos de sepultamento e outros tipos de sepulcros sugerem uma sociedade complexa em que os objetos de bronze . Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from . It was built in 1556, when the capital was moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiene, and took 6 years to complete. The Mekong River is vital as a transportation route for cargo and passengers, a source of electricity at dams, a water supply for crops, and a home to fish . Lao Soung account for about 10% of the population. [141] Laos's progress is notable in comparison to similar developing countries. About 3km to the north of the city, it is easy to reach the centre from the airport by taxi, tuk tuk or bus. More than half of the nation's population is ethnic Laothe principal lowland inhabitants, and the politically and culturally dominant people of Laos. Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. 1353 - Lan Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom, founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum. Origins of the Lao Kingdom. The constitution and Family Code bar the legal recognition of polygamous marriages, stipulating that monogamy is the principal form of marriage in the country. [100], Ostensibly, the Constitution of Laos that was promulgated in 1991 and amended in 2003 contains most key safeguards for human rights. Laos is thus the 22nd biggest country in Asia and in terms of area ranked 84th worldwide. With an estimated population of 760,000 in 2015, the city is also the most populous in the nation. "Last month, they the authorities told us they're going to . Situated on a curve of the Mekong River, Laos's Capital has a recorded history that stretches back to around 1,000 AD. The most popular place to visit in Laos, Luang Prabang is an historic city that once served as the capital of the Kingdom of Laos. The nation's most important government buildings, ministries, departments and foreign embassies are located in Vientiane. ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 7. Vientiane was a Khmer (remember Cambodia?) The major roads connecting to urban centres, in particular Route 13, have been significantly upgraded in recent years. [155], The adult literacy rate for women in 2017 was 62.9%; for adult men, 78.1%. The train arrived at the brand new Vientiane Capital Station, the largest and most important station of the line . [70] Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997 and acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2016. [127] Of the potential capacity of approximately 18,000 megawatts, around 8,000 megawatts have been committed for export to Thailand and Vietnam. In 2016, China was the biggest foreign investor in Laos's economy, having invested in US$5.395billion since 1989, according to Laos Ministry of Planning and Investment's 19892014 report. As the country opens up, with an increasing number of roads and bridges being built the tourist attractions are becoming more and more accessible. [17][18], The word Laos was coined by the French, who united the three Lao kingdoms in French Indochina in 1893 and named the country as the plural of the dominant and most common ethnic group, the Lao people.
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